Vernon County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk

• DroughtRelatively High$2.43M/yr expected annual loss, about 13 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$1.12M/yr expected annual loss, about 16 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$264K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• HailRelatively Low$391K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.7 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.18M/yr expected annual loss, about 2.3 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$77.82K/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$302K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 679 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.27M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Strong windRelatively Low$523K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.1 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$930/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
• HurricaneVery Low$15.02K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• LightningRelatively Low$107K/yr expected annual loss, about 55 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$9,939/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,377 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

7 of 10,380 (0.1%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

105

Insured in high-risk zones

4 (4%)

Flood claims since 1978

12

Claims paid since 1978

$93.36K

• Hail207
• Thunderstorm Wind173
• Flash Flood81
• Drought42
• Flood40 · 1 death
• Winter Storm25
• Tornado14
• Winter Weather11
• Heavy Rain11
• High Wind11

• Drought12/01/2023

  Vernon

  $26.9M damage

  What happened

  Enough rain fell towards the middle to end of the month to improve conditions back to moderate drought. Farm and stock ponds continued to see impacts along with ground water levels and reservoirs. Crop loss estimates notated in this month encompass losses from continued drought since spring 2023.

• Hail2.5" hail04/26/2026

  Bronaugh, Vernon County

  $25M damage

  What happened

  A severe thunderstorm produced hail from golf ball to tennis balls in size over a swath nearly 32 miles in length from south of Nevada, MO to locations north and east of Nevada. Along this mostly rural path, damage occurred to some roofs of homes and structures, vehicles, multiple RV's, equipment and crops.

• Drought08/01/2012

  Vernon

  $18.69M damage

  What happened

  The U.S Drought Monitor continued to report Extreme Drought (D3) to Exceptional Drought (D4) throughout the month of August. The region started seeing some rainfall by the end of the month. The COOP station near Horton reported 2.87 of rainfall for the month of August. This is a continuation of the drought that began across the region in June. As a result of the limited rainfall combined with the excessive heat, the USDA Service center in Vernon County indicated that crop losses were 75 percent of the spring planting. Many farmers and ranchers reported having to feed hay as pastures stopped growing and became dry through the month which added to operation costs. Monetary crop loss figures are estimates using information from the National Agricultural Statistics database, local FSA and USDA offices and other local, state or federal agency information. Livestock losses, if they occurred or were reported are listed in the property section.

• Drought02/01/2023

  Vernon

  $12.3M damage

  What happened

  Rainfall through the month allowed for improvement across the county though Moderate (D1) Drought conditions continued across the region through the end of February. The US Drought Monitor indicated only the southwestern third of the county remained in Moderate (D1) Drought with the rest of the county having improved to either Abnormally (D0) dry or no drought. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops. Crop loss estimates notated in this month encompass losses from initial drought development in 2022.

• Frost/Freeze04/08/2007

  Vernon

  $11.76M damage

  What happened

  Unusually warm conditions during the month of March caused early season growth in vegetation across the Missouri Ozarks. Hay along with the wheat crop had began to mature. During the nights of April 7th through the 9th, temperatures dropped into the upper teens to mid 20s, causing a hard freeze on matured vegetation. The wheat crop suffered approximately 90% damage. Hay crops along with fescue seed also sustained major damage. Total crop losses for 34 counties across the southwestern quadrant of Missouri were estimated at $147,905,541.

• Heat07/25/2002

  Vernon

  1 death

  What happened

  A 15 year old male was riding his bike during the afternoon. He collapsed and die of heat stroke in Nevada.

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/04/2026

  Schell City, Vernon County

  $20K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/04/2026

  Walker, Vernon County

  $25K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/04/2026

  Nevada Arpt, Vernon County

• Hail1.75" hail04/27/2026

  Dederick, Vernon County

• Hail2.5" hail04/27/2026

  Walker, Vernon County

  $200K damage

• Hail2" hail04/26/2026

  Nevada Arpt, Vernon County

  $80K damage

• Hail1.5" hail04/26/2026

  Nevada, Vernon County

• Hail2" hail04/26/2026

  Nevada, Vernon County

• Vernon County Cons Pwsd 1Serves 9,615 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• Nevada PwsServes 8,198 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Bates County Pwsd 4Serves 2,348 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Vernon County Pwsd 2Serves 1,800 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Vernon County Pwsd 7Serves 550 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Sheldon PwsServes 543 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Walker PwsServes 283 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+3 monitoring or reporting
• Schell City PwsServes 250 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting